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PHYSICAL
CHARACTERISTICS
Geographical Location and Land Area
Tagudin is the gateway of the Province
of Ilocos Sur from the south. It has a total land area
of 4,496 hectares unevenly divided in 43 barangays.
This is only less than 10% of the total land area of
Ilocos Sur. It lies within 16’ 56” latitude and 120’
32” longitude. It is bounded by the Majestic
Cordillera Moutain Ranges on the east; on the west by
the South China Sea, on the south by the mighty
Amburayan River and the towns of Sudipen and Bangar,
La Uniion; and on the north by the town of Sta. Cruz.
It is 90 kilometers away from Vigan, the capital town
(now a city) of Ilocos Sur; 45 kilometers away from
San Fernando, La Union, the region’s center of
government agencies; and 317 kilometers away from
Manila. Tagudin serve as trading and commercial hub
for its neighboring towns of Suyo, Cervantes, Sugpon
and Alilem Ilocos Sur.
Climate
Tagudin, just like any other Ilocos
town, has two mayor seasons; the rainy and dry
seasons. The rainy season usually comes during the
second week of May and continues until November while
the dry season is prevalent during the rest of the
year. Being part of the Ilocos Region, it is one of
the driest in the Philippines. Average for rainfall in
the entire province of Ilocos Sur is 212.70 mm, the
highest among the Ilocos Provinces. With its eastern
mountain rages, Tagudin is protected from the Pacific
Trade winds, however, due to its proximity to the open
South China Sea, it is very vulnerable to typhoons
originating from the west.
Topography and Land Features
The municipality of Tagudin is situated
on a relatively flat terrain on its western part and
slowly rises to its hilly and mountainous areas in the
east. The Poblacion area is flat with grid-type
streets.
Rock Formation
The stratified rocks that are common in
the area are alluviums. These are composed of
detrital deposits, mostly sands and gravel that are
located along the western coastal areas, river valleys
and flat areas. This rock formation provides economic
activities for the people in the form of hollow block
making and other concrete products.
Faultlines
The region is traversed by numerous
faultlines with the major ones running through
northwest and northeast trends. The nearest faultline
to the municipality is located in Alilem, Ilocos Sur
where a river dam is now constructed. This makes
Tagudin also prone to earthquakes.
Water Resources
The municipality has one of the
region’s biggest river basin namely the Amburayan
River which bisects the southwestern area of the
town’s river deltas located at the barangays Pudoc,
Sawat, Tarangotong, Pacac, Baritao, Libtong, Bimmanga
and Borono. The northern side of the town is bathed
by the tributaries of the Chico River originating from
the upland town of Suyo and its flows down to the
barangays of Bitalag and Baracbac. This is being used
as source of irrigation for these two barangays.
Aquatic Resources
Owing to its long coastline extending
from Pudoc to Becques and the two main river basins of
Amburayan and Chico, Tagudin is blessed with rich
aquatic life (i.e.) fish and marine plants). It is
also the recipient of the seasonal catch of fish
locally known as “ipon”, which is a delicacy among the
Ilocanos.
Mineral Resources
The Ilocos Region has vast reserves of
metallic as well as non-metallic resources. Tagudin
is best known for its iron magnetite, which was mined
by the defunct FILMAG, Philippines in the early 70’s
to 80’s. This industry provided livelihood for the
local residents and income for the municipal
government during that time. However, due to
environmental concerns that were later on politicized,
the magnetic mining operation in Tagudin was
discontinued.
Nowadays, the Amburayan River found
abundant from its aggregates( e.g. sand, gravel,
rocks) being extracted from time to time mostly usable
for construction of various projects which income
derived therein is both beneficial to the people and
the government.
Flood and Erosion Areas
During the rainy seasons, the
municipality experience destructive floods caused by
the overflowing of the Amburayan and Chico Rivers and
the several creeks that originated from the eastern
mountains. Existing drainage facilities are
inadequate, the creeks and ditches are mostly narrow
and shallow due to soil erosion and siltation, and
hence, water easily overflows. Cases of soil erosion
have constantly increased through the years due to
continued denudation of the mountain and hills. The
barangays that are prone to flooding include Ambalayat,
Pallogan, Pudoc East and West, Pacac, Sawat, Lantag,
Baritao, and Tarangotong. Wide portions of these
barangays have already been eroded.
EXISTING LAND USES
General Land Use
From the time of Spanish colonization,
the municipality of Tagudin has predominantly been
agricultural. Majority of its lands are utilized for
agriculture. Over the years, however, local
development has continued to introduce changes in the
land use. The introduction of new economic ventures,
social and political influences, availability of
opportunities and infrastructure developments has
triggered the conversion of agricultural lands into
business/commercial sites. Likewise, population
growth has its share in the continuous modification of
municipal land use.
The municipality has a total of 4, 496
hectares (44.96 sq. kilometers) where around 1% of
which is occupied by four (4) urban barangays namely
Del Pilar, Magsaysay, Quirino and Rizal. The other 39
barangays outside the Poblacion occupy the rest of the
area, which is mostly agricultural. It must be noted
however, that within the rural barangays there are
clusters of residential areas, hence, they form part
of built-up areas. The vast Amburayan River and some
of its tributaries and canals also occupy a
considerable area. The hilly mountainous eastern
portion of the municipality is considered agro-forest
according to forest classification; therefore, this
falls under agricultural land use.
Built-up Areas
This consists of approximately 419.6
hectares or 9% of the municipality’s total land area.
This includes the densely populated urban barangays
and the clusters of residential buildings (sitios) in
the rural barangays. The identification of built-up
areas is based on the existence of socio-economic
activities and other support facilities such as
infrastructure. The possibility of constructing or
extending such facilities is also given consideration.
Agricultural Land
Tagudin’s primary source of income is
from agriculture (i.e. rice and crop production) as
evidenced by its agricultural land, which is about
2,719 hectares or 60% of the total land area. Most of
these lands are irrigated while certain portions are
dependent on rain or are being irrigated through motor
pumps and small water impounding systems. This makes
Tagudin as one of the top rice-producing towns in the
province of Ilocos Sur.
HUMAN RESOURCES
As of December 2002, Tagudin has an
estimated total population 35,713, which is about
1.05% of the regional population and 0.0006% of the
national population. The population grew by 1.83
percent from its 1997 level. This is much lower
compared to the annual national population growth rate
of 2.4%. Among the 43 barangays, Becques has the
highest population while barangay Tarangotong has the
lowest population. The population density is 18
persons per square kilometer, which is likewise very
low compared to the national average of 206 persons
per square kilometer. The Poblacion area has the
highest density since majority of the people live in
this area.
As for sex distribution, the female
population is slightly higher than the male population
by 0.1%. The female population also dominates the
potential labor force (15-64 years old) and elderly
(65 years old and above). The 15-64 age group
comprises 75% of the population while about 24% comes
from the 0-14 age group. The Senior citizens account
for the remaining 1%. This shows the high potential
of laborer and wage earner.
SECTORAL PROFILE
Agricultural Sector
As an agricultural municipality, rice
is the major farm product of Tagudin. Secondary crops
such as Virginia tobacco, corn, onions, vegetables,
and peanuts follow this.
Cropping System / Crop Rotation.
During the first cropping a total of
1,300 has. irrigated lands is being utilized for rice
production while only 962 hectares of irrigated lands
is utilized during the second cropping. The rest of
the agricultural lands are used for secondary crops
such as vegetable, tobacco, corn, onions, and peanuts.
Livestock and Poultry.
The local residences raise livestock and poultry in
their backyards. Cattles are raised mainly for
farming (i.e. plowing, harrowing, etc.) and
transporting products while poultry and swine are for
commercial magnitude and minimally for household
consumption. Goats are likewise raised in barangays
mostly located in the hilly and grassland areas.
Fish Production.
There is 2.0% hectares devoted to
fishpond with a volume production of 1.4 tons
annually. The fishing gears are hook and line, fish
traps, fish gears and cast nets. The kinds of fish
caught are tilapia, gurami, dalag, and hito.
Irrigation Facilities.
The irrigation facilities of the
municipality are covering a total of 1,300 hectares of
land. The National Irrigation Administration is
irrigating an approximate land area of 1, 058
hectares. However, in barangays that can not be
served by irrigation system, farmers avail themselves
of a motor pump. These water pumps are very
advantageous to them especially during the dry
season. It is estimated that these water pumps could
served at least 242 hectares of land. Another
irrigation facility is the SWIP (Small Ways Impounding
Project) that is now built in several barangays nearby
mountains being complemented by numerous polyethylene
pipes distributed by the municipal government.
Commerce Sector
In the municipality of Tagudin,
commercial establishments are most concentrated in the
Poblacion, the center of activity of the whole
municipality. However, some commercial establishments
like eateries or restaurants are located in barangays
Bio, Dardarat, Libtong and Bitalag because these
barangays are located along the Manila North Road.
Food chains start to surmise in the Poblacion with the
opening of Mr. Donut. The opening of Villa Marlene at
Barangay Magsaysay is significant to the municipality
for it contributes a lot in the trade and business
potentials of the town. The said establishment offers
air-conditioned function hall that can cater 150
participants and a picturesque garden that is suitable
for garden parties, which is large enough to hold 300
participants. Its façade displays items that are
either for sale or for rent like gowns, barongs,
formal dresses and complete wedding amenities.
Expansion will follow such as pension inn complemented
by another function hall. Existing lodging inn in the
municipality is the Foothill Lodge & Grocery located
at Barangay Bitalag.
The biggest in the Poblacion is the
Tagudin Public Market, where commercial activities are
concentrated as it is here that one can get supplies
of meat, fish, vegetables, groceries, medicines,
clothing and other commodities. Everyday is market
day but it is heaviest on Sundays. In rural areas,
sari-sari stores provide daily needs.
There is an alternative public market
that is the Bitalag Satellite Market in Barangay
Bitalag, which formally started its operation in
1997. Large volume of farm products from the uplands
is being sold here. It is also considered the fruit
market of the town.
The slaughtering of domesticated
animals for sale at the Public Market especially
during Sundays is not totally accommodated by the Old
Municipal Slaughterhouse of which only delivers
limited output of ready meat for sale. However, the
municipal government of Tagudin had already realized
its plan to have a new abattoir that will shoulder all
animals to be butchered ready for consumption. The new
abattoir has been tested and ready for operation.
During regular days, an average of fifteen (18) heads
of pig are butchered and an average of forty (40)
heads, likewise during Sundays. The number of
carabaos butchered during Sundays is six (6) heads and
only one(1)for weekdays, while a single cow is
butchered during Sundays and weekdays too.
Banking institutions in the
municipality continue to flourish. The newest bank
that has been established is the Rural Bank of Santol
(Tagudin Branch) aside from the Rural Bank of Tagudin.
These banks however, is complemented by The Tagudin
Multi-Purpose Credit Coop., Inc., the biggest
cooperative in the Province with an assets of P 60.3
million. These financial institutions provide loan
facilities to businessmen, farmers and others.
Agro-Industrial Sector
Industrial activities in the
municipality of Tagudin could be described only as
small and light scale industries. Existing in the
municipality are rice mills and corn mills which are
located in almost all barangays; hollow block
manufacturers are located in barangays Libtong,
Dardarat, Bimmanga and Dacutan; woodcrafts,
metalcrafts and furniture making are found in the
Poblacion, and all barangays along the National
Highway and blanket weaving are in barangays
Malacañang, Pudoc, Ag-aguman, Bimmanga and Farola. In
some barangays like Ambalayat, Ag-aguman, Gabur, and
Ranget, residents are also engaged in wine and vinegar
making. These existing industries compliment the
agricultural activities of the residents and besides
increase the income derive from farming.
Transportation Sector
There are twenty(20) bridges in the
Municipality; the national government is maintaining
six (6) of these bridges, while the rest are
maintained by the Provincial and Municipal Government.
There are about fifteen (15)
transportation companies plying between Tagudin and
Manila and four (7) companies plying between Tagudin
and Baguio. Complimentary to this big transportations
are some mini-buses and jeepneys route to San Fernando
City, La Union passing via Tagudin. Jeeps, tricycles,
scooters and motorized carts facilitate transportation
going to one barangay to the other within the
municipality.
Communication Sector
Communication Services in the
municipality are well experienced by the populace
through facilitated and advanced aspect of
technology. The Telecommunication services being
provided by the Bureau of Telecommunication and the
RCPI Tagudin compliment the access of communication
convenient, faster and affordable. Likewise, in the
telephone technology, the DIGITEL, which is the first
and has the highest total of subscribers, is now
competed by the newly based PLDT communication that
has gained numerous subscribers. Text messaging system
have also become a common communication link among
local residents.
Almost all residents own information
facilities like radios, TV, audio-video system, cell
phones, etc.. Recently, there are twenty-five (25)
radio stations received from adjacent towns, cities
and provinces. There are six (6) TV national stations
with their locally based stations being received
respectively. The presence of CABLE-TV network in
town is only facilitated by the ROMEVAN technology,
which is operated and managed by the Tagudin
Multi-Purpose Cooperative Inc. Lately, a new radio-fm
station was established in Tagudin which gradually
earning avid learners from day to day operation
especially those fun of music.
Power Sector
All 43 barangays of the municipality
are already energized through the Ilocos Sur Electric
Cooperative. About 6,244 or 98% total of all
residential, commercial and institutional
establishments avail ISECO services. The collection
office was transferred in the town of Sta. Cruz,
Ilocos Sur to centralize its location that can access
services to all consumers not only in Tagudin.
Religious Sector
The long span of years of Spanish
Colonization in the Philippines brought a tangible
Christian Formation with the majority of the Filipinos
and this is purely manifested in Tagudin. The CICM/ICM
Missionaries who based and started their multi-sectoral
Christian missions in Tagudin likewise made an
enormous contribution to the development of
Catholicism and about 80% of the constituents adheres
to this dominant religion in the municipality.
Water System
At present, the Tagudin Water District
is servicing potable water supply to 1802 households
particularly in the barangays of Poblacion and along
the National Highways with a total of 1802. Those who
could not avail the services of the firm especially in
the remote barangays have to resort in open dug or
shallow wells equipped with electric, jet-matic or
pitcher pump. Likewise, those places nearby mountains
have Small Water Impounding Project or Spring
Development Project that supplies water for every
household.
Garbage Disposal System
The Municipal Government of Tagudin has
four (4) garbage trucks that collect garbage daily
from 1400 households of the town proper and barangays
along the highway. An average of 15 cubic meters of
garbage are collected everyday. Collected garbage is
temporarily disposed at the riverside because the
proposed recycling area or so-called Sanitary
Landfill at Barangay Bio is still on negotiation. A
total of 3982 households burn their garbage and 1072
resort to composting. Implementation of the Solid
Waste Management Program is still partially realized
throughout the Municipality due to insufficiency of
funds. Massive Campaign on Zero Waste Management has
been conducted to several barangays, schools as well
as agencies. Numerous Sorting Grill Materials and
Trash Boxes, likewise disseminated to these areas to
access proper disposition of waste materials. A
Lakbay-aral to some dumping and recycling areas had
been undertaken spearheaded by the Municipal Officials
purposely to physically survey the dumping and
recycling area and acquire vital information and
technical know-how, which is to be comprehensively
imparted then to the people of the Municipality.
Drainage System
Drainage Canal and Water Outlets are
almost embedded in the Town Proper (Poblacion). These
waterways are constantly monitored and maintained for
proper operation however, the occurrence of calamity
such as typhoon or floods and sometimes
irresponsibility of some constituents resulted to
clogged and buried canals that causes overflowing and
sometimes stores water for stagnation for a period
that make it union for a period that make it unmajor
streets in the town have been concretely covered not
only to deter dropping waste but it also widens the
street suitable for parking area especially during
market or busy days.
Recreation Facilities
The nearly completed Tagudin Municipal
Gymnasium is now the center of all civic program and
activities especially sports oriented of for all ages.
Because of its modernized plan and huge capacity, many
people now experienced the conduciveness of the place
and even claimed as a potential spot to attract
national basketball players to play, which is a
long-year dreamt of the constituents to behold.
Most of the constructed Solar Dryers
are utilized as playing area for basketball and
volleyball in the barangays. Balls and Nets are
likewise distributed for recreation especially for
those areas, which experience much burden in terms of
financial security.
Videoke bars, Billiard Center and
Countless Pool Table places are permitted to operate
legally however such operation is regulated subject to
existing ordinances of the Municipality and other
pertinent laws.
Family Planning
As of December 2002, a total of 4,029
couples have acquired free pills, Depot Medroxy
Progesterone Acetate (DEPO), Intra Uterine Device
(IUD), & Condom from the Rural Health Unit of Tagudin.
Of all the mentioned Family Planning Methods, pills
ranked first as the primary method preferred by
couples.
As per record, number. of Family
Planning acceptors fill up only 21% of the total no.
of families in the municipality, 66% of it is presumed
to be using natural methods or acquires the method
from private prescriptions, and the remaining 12%
fills up the Family Planning non-acceptors.
Nutrition Program
The Operation Timbang for the year 2002
is 6440 children or 90% of the projected target, which
is far higher than the regional and national average
of 85%. Out of this target, the RHU were able to
identify 27 (0.4%) 3rd degree malnourished
children while 265 (4.3%) were 2nd degree
malnourished. These indicate an improving nutritional
status of the children of Tagudin. While in Vitamin A
Deficiency disorder program, the supplementation
intervention activities yield a 97% accomplishment.
This was due to the arrival of Vitamin A supply, which
was distributed to children and infants during the
regular immunization days. In the area of Iron
Deficiency Anemia Program, both for the pregnant,
lactating mother and pre-schooler, the low percentage
of output was mainly due to the inadequate supply of
iron supplement. The pre-schooled refuse to take
their iron supplement due to the impala ability of the
supplied medicines. In the area of Iodine Deficiency
Disorder it registered 36% for the ages 15-44 years of
age. The winning side of the nutrition program was
the Deworming project wherein massive Deworming named
“CONTRA BULATE” was implemented with a 87% of the
targeted children given anti-helmitics purchased by
the LGU.
Health Statistics
Both the government and private sectors
are handling the health care of the citizens of
Tagudin. At present there are more than ten(10)
doctors attending to health needs of the citizen.
There are two(2) hospitals existing in
the municipality, the Southern Ilocos Sur District
Hospital with a 50-bed capacity and the Paciencia
Gonzales Memorial Hospital. Complimentary to this is
the newly completed Rural Health Unit of Tagudin
enable to handle-up in response to the health needs of
the populace of Tagudin. The RHU eventually become a
lying-in hospital and permanently be equipped with
laboratory and x-ray machines. This project is
realized through the fund raising project initiated by
the good Mayor courtesy of the overseas Tagudinians
supplemented by the government fund. Contemporarily,
Influx of established Medical and Dental Clinics in
Tagudin ensure accessibility to health security of the
constituents.
Education
The municipality has only one school
district headed by the OIC-District Supervisor. It
has one Central School, 15 complete elementary schools
and 5 primary schools. There are two government
schools namely; (1) Tagudin National High School,
formerly Tagudin General Comprehensive High School and
(2) the Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College which
offers secondary and tertiary education with its
Vocational Basic Study Course as its non-formal
education program.
Complimenting the public schools are
non-sectarian private schools such as Saint
Augustine’s School, which offers kindergarten,
elementary and secondary education; the Seventh Day
Adventist Multi Grade School and the UCCP offer
nursery level; the AIRTOP offers computer courses and
the Tagudin Institute of Science and Technology
Foundation offers oriented vocational and technical
courses.
Following are lists of these schools:
NURSERY
Saint Augustine’s School
UCCP Nursery School
Tagudin Adventist Multi-Grade School
KINDERGARTEN
Saint Augustine’s School
UCCP Nursery School
Tagudin Adventist Multi-Grade School
ELEMENTARY
Tagudin Central School
Saint Augustine’s School
Ag-aguman Elementary School
Ambalayat Elementary School
Baracbac Elementary School
Becques Community School
Bimmanga Elementary School
Bitalag Primary School
Bio Elementary School
Cabulanglangan Primary School
Cabugbugan Community School
Garitan Elementary School
Las-ud Elementary School
Libtong Community School
Pacac Primary School
Pallogan Elementary School
Pudoc East Elementary School
Pudoc West Elementary School
San Miguel Primary School
San Pedro Elementary School
Tallaoen Primary School
Tampugo Elementary School
HIGH SCHOOL
Tagudin National High School
Saint Augustine’s School
Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College
Laboratory H.S. (Tagudin Campus)
COLLEGE / VOCATIONAL SCHOOL
Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (Tagudin
Campus)
Tagudin Institute of Science And
Technology Foundation Inc.
Asian Institute for Research and
Technology of the Philippines, Inc.
Human Rights and Protection Services
At present, the policemen are
responsible in maintaining peace and order in the
municipality. These policemen have their respective
duties according to the place of their assignment,
wherein the newly based Almazan Outpost and Bitalag
Market Satellite Outpost have shifting duties for the
whole Twenty-Four hours. Duties include night patrols,
traffic management and providing social order.
There is also a fire station being
manned by firemen, which has two (2) units of fire
trucks to serve the municipality and other adjacent
towns of Tagudin.
Financial Administration
As of 2002, the municipality has an
estimated total income in the amount of P
31,438,798.00.
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